Apple has announced the dates for its annual WWDC and hinted that this is when the new Siri is coming, plus it's released AI features in Apple Music, and says ads are coming to Apple Maps, all on the AppleInsider Podcast.
As reluctantly predicted, it now looks as if the new and revised Siri will debut in full at WWDC — although we might get some improvements in iOS 26.5. While anyone who finds Siri continues to be broken, will cross their fingers for the update, Apple has released iOS 26.4.
Among its updates are the usual exciting new emoji, but also a Genius feature for having Apple Intelligence produce an Apple Music playlist for you. Equally, though, Apple Music continues to step up its human-curated playlists, too.
Whereas Apple is about to step further into advertising. It does look as if Apple Maps is going to go the Google Maps route with ads everywhere, but maybe it's going to even turn out to be a good thing.
BONUS: Subscribe via Patreon or Apple Podcasts to hear AppleInsider+, the extended edition. This time, Apple just updated iPhones and Apple Watches back to the dawn of time in order to protect users from a new hacking threat. But you are always safer with new devices, so is Apple actually building in planned obsolescence to get us to keep buying?
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Links from the show:
- What to expect at WWDC 2026
- iOS 26.4 is here with Playlist Playground, videos in Podcasts, new emoji, more
- Wes's Playlist: Writing with Elegance on Apple Music
- Apple distills Google Gemini model for on-iPhone processing
- iOS 27 will finally get that long-awaited Siri update
- Grammarly CEO steps on same rake over and over in embarrassing interview about AI slop
- Behind on Siri, Apple makes a billion dollars from rival AI apps
- Generative video creator Sora is dead along with $1 billion Disney content deal
- watchOS 8 and watchOS 5 get minor updates with iMessage fix
- iOS 18.7.7, macOS 15.7.5 updates fix kernel memory leaks & WebKit flaws
- You are out of time to update: Severe iOS hack code leaks to everyone
- Apple Maps ads are private and launch in the summer
- Apple Business Mail tempts Google Workspace users with free email
- Apple Business goes free, consolidating business and brand management tools in one platform
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